gustay mueller



`To all `whom t may concern,"

o. GusrAv MUELLER, or OHARLEs'rON, SOUTH CAROLINA.

' j QANKQLOCK.

l secieaemn gf Letters raten# Ne. 12,547, dated April 3, 1855.

Be itknown that I, C. GUsTAv MUELLER,

1Aof Charleston, in thedistrict of Charleston and State of South lCarolina have invented certain `new and useful Improvements in Powder` and Burglar-Proof Locks; `and I do `hereby ydeclare thewfollowing to be a full,

clear, and eXact description ofthe same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a partthereof, in whichl Figure 1, represents" a front view of the lock, Fig.2,represents avertical side view ot` `one of `theycompartmentsi of the lock.

fFig, 3, represents rear` view of oneof the N chambers of the loclLg' Fig. 4,9represents a` side view of the same chamber. Fig.` 5, rep-l resents the back of the lock, its plate being removed, andthe boltf` thrown out, and lee-` cured, Fig. `6, represents a similar view with i thebolt thrown back into the lock, andthe position of its connected parts. .'Figs. 7, 8, and 9, areftransverse sectional views across the lock, at; various points, Fig. `lO, is a perspective view of the knobs, and the several` pieces more j immediately connected with them;` y i 'c 1- Figs. 11, 12and 13, representthree differ;-

` "ent views ofthe keyxf `Similar letters i the severalfigures, de`

`note like parts;

To enable others skilled in the art to make f and use my inventioml will proceed to describe the samewith reference to the drawings, first premising that the shape and size of 'the lock may `depend upon the special use to which `it is to be applied, and itlmay be.

a right `or Tleft hand lock, and with slight modifications beplaoed on the inside or outsideof avault door, or be embraced within j .l `the inner and outer plates of the door, without any change in its principle of construction, my object `being `to construct a cheap,

`yet strong and eective `lock that shall be powder andburglar proohand applicable to allthe purposes forwhich such. locks are used,` j

H, represents the handle which is used for throwing out and in"thejboltZ,`and for Operating the Other mechanism inthe lock,

faswwill be describedw In the center of the knob H, is placed another `smaller knob B, which maybe flush with, `or projected a litle `beyond `thegknobH, but which can be depressed towardthelock about one fourth f` an inch, and Witheut which. depression the knob H, cannot', be turned, or the bolt thrown. The knob B, after it has been depressed, and released, nies back into its regular positionagain by the action of a spring g, Figs.` `2, 5, 10, within the lock.

A, is the front plate of the lock, and is solid, except where the aXis of the knob H,

passes through it, and the narrow vertical openings, through which the pins or proj ections n, n, n, on the steel bars i, z', z', protrude.

Thesevertical apertures in the front plate `are regulated in'size according to the size inner` mechanism of the lock. The pins mn, (a, can be moved Vup and` down in these hpertures, and the bars z', z', of which they are part constantly keep the apertures closed upyso that neither powder, instruments, or

anything else can be introduced into the interiori ofthe lock, and it is thus made powder and pick proof. There are springs s s s, Fig. 5, above the plates or bars z z' z' which operate indirectly on said `bar sfor forcing them `and, thepins n attached to said bars back `to their places, after'the power by which they were previously moved up, has heenwithdrawn'. It is obvious that instead of the projecting pins z', Jfor operating the slides there may be Idepressions or holesl in the bars into `which the keyA or other instrument maybe introduced for moving said bars. This would leave the front of the lock' smooth and prevent the damaging of it, which might be done bybreaking off the pins, :when they are used. And if found essential these slides or bars, may be further protected by` `placing them `farther in the lock, and reaching them through small tubes, with a key properly prepared for such an arrangement.

The lock is divided into two compartments bya plate I, `which extends from its `front to its back, as seen in Figs. 5, 6, and a vertical side `view of Ojneo1 the compartments is shown inFig, 2. The bars z' z' z', move between the front plate A, and a seoond plateA D, behind it, and a sideview of one of them with its projecting pin n, is seen in its position between the plates A, D, `in

Fig. 2. Behind the plate D,-'is another bar M, `which is about two thirds of the height of the lock in length, `and its movement is the same as that of the bars ori-plates The plate D, has at its base an Opening or openings, of the same length as those in the Plate A, but the highest peints of the. Orenings in D, are below the lowest points of the openings in A, so as not to come opposite each ot-her. Through the opening in D, protrudes a pin m, Fig. 2, which is a part of, or connected to the bar M, and lits into a suitable hole in the plate z', thus connecting the bars M, and by means of said pin m, so that the several parts shall have corresponding movements. When the pin n, is lifted,it carries with it plate i, and by means of the connecting pin m, it carries the bar M with it. The bars M, slide between the plates D, and L, L, and are separated from each other by thin plates of metal (as seen in Fig. 5,) which serve as ways or guides for the movement of said bars M, of which three are shown.

On top of each bar M, is a spiral spring s, which presses them down when no power is applied to keep them up. The lower parts of the bars M, have rack teeth (Figs. 2, 10,) cut in them, which in lengt-h should be a little more than the openings through which n, and m are protruded. 7", r', r, Fig. 2, represent round holes drilled into the bars M, large enough to receive and contain the horizontal slides f f f', which will be hereafter described more particularly. The bars M, beyond what has been mentioned are solid.

In Fig. 10, is represented, in perspective, the knob H and its several devices in place for operating the bars M. C, is the axis of the knob H, and passes through plates A, and D, and through thisaxis which is hollow, is fitted a rod p which connects the inside or small knob B, with the interior mechanism of the lock. A pin m" passing through the rod p, serves to keep the knob B, from moving out beyond a certain distance, which should be about flush with the knob H. e, is a pivot on the rod by which a thin short piece of metal 71 1s attached to it, and which rests loosely in an opening in lever Z, which is attached to a rod t, which extends from one side of the lock to the other, and is supported in the plates Q and G (Fig. 5,) passing through an opening in the plate I. Opposite to the collective center of the bars M, on the rod or shaft t, there is placed another lever d, which extends downward, and rests on or against a steel plate 1, which is movable in grooves cut in the plates I, Gr, (Figs. 2, 5). This plate 1", is connected at its center with a spring g, which is permanently attached to the bottom of the lock, by a screw it. The spring works loosely in an opening in plate r, through which it extends, and it presses the plate 1', toward or against the lever cl. When unrestrained by -any external pressure the spring g, keeps the plate 7" (which has its edge next the bars M, wedge shaped) about one fourth of an inch distant from the bars M, opposite the upper of the rack teeth, as seen in Fig. 2. When in this position as the plate 1', presses against the lever or arm CZ, so will the lever or arm l press against the rod 79, and when the knob B is forced out by p, to its greatest extent, it will be iush with the knob H. From this arrangement of parts it is obvious that if the knob B, is pressed in, the rod p will press against the arm or lever, which partially burning the shaft t, will cause the lever d, to press the plate r, down into the rack teeth in M, it making no difference into what position the bars M may have been lifted. WVhen this has been done (and it must be done before the knob H can be turned in order to throw back the bolt) every one of the bars M, and the bars z', z', z', with which they are connected are rendered entirely immovable, and cannot therefore be made to produce any friction on the'inner side of the lock, as long as they are thus held by the plate r; and as the horizontal slides f f f (Fig. 2) which have to be forced into| the holes in the bars M, are a short distance from the surface of the bars M, before the knob H is turned, it follows that these slides f', cannot be pushed or pressed against the bars M, before' they have been fastened by the plate r, thus making any friction between the bars M, and slides f impossible, and consequently making the picking of the lock just as impossible, for locks can only be picked by producing friotion between the parts, and ascertaining how the various parts fit each ot-her, and at what points or elevations. An expert lock picker iirst ascertains with his implements the avenues to the bolt, by raising and lowering, or by pressing against, the parts to feel which yield, and which ,are rigid, and at what particular positions they are thus yielding or rigid and so discovers his way to the bolt. Now by fastening rigidly the bars M, in my lock, I remove any and every possibility of arriving at the particular part that holds them from moving, as nothing will move those parts but the key that placed them there.

The axis C, of the knob H is square, beyond plate D (Fig. 7 and on its square part has a circular plate WV, which of course moves with the knob. On the rod p, behind the plate W, is attached a steel arm T, by means of a collar R, around the rod, and which can be turned around on the rod p, while it is prevented from sliding either way horizontally on the rod by the iianges fl, z". The plate W has a hole VI, in it, as seen in Fig. 6, into which the arm T, lits; and at the two extreme points, to which the hole VI, can be brought by the turning of the plate W, there are holes about one fourth of an inch deep in the rst plate D of the lock, of the same diameter as the hole in the plate W. The arm T, is of such ailengthpasto `able to rest with its l point infeither hole "of plate `D,when theY on exists at the e' leek.'

" ordeivto; make `the Yknob H, movable, the

knob B, ispressedupon,:"and this will lift" the` larm T, outro-f1 i the lock, but itf` the hole in plate I) of and` thus b'ecarried around until it comes to the second hole,`into which it will drop,

l wif the pressure on the knob B, is removed,

[bytheaction of the spring g, before described.` This contrivance lcomplet-es the` 'fastening of thebarsflVLby plate 7' partially` before,` and during the: turning` of the knobyl` y. a i

p, The plateW, is not entirely circular, that v part of itibetween `thedotted radial lines l (Fig. 6)1` being` ofsmaller diameterf than theremaining portion. This leaves the.

point mf farther from the centerthan n,

say about onefourthfof an` inch for a pur-` pose to be described.

(Figs. i and "6, shows` the bolt from the back.` ffy is la projecting point on`it,upon

which `thecircularplatezW, by means of `its ltwo points wf and mffacts, `to move the bolt` out of the lock or into it.A On` turningthe knob H, by it the `plate W, in the direction of thearrow Fig. 6, thepoint 91X,

will be brought `to act o-n the pin or point y, and will thus moventhe bolt out of the lock.

)Whenthe bolt is out-of its fullest extent, the point n` willclear itself of the projectiony, 1 and willpass it; i Fig. 5, shows the position of plate `W, and of the bolt e,"` after the lat-ter has been moved forward, and after fn, has

passed the projection" y.\By reversing the motion `oftheknob", the point mt, being longer," or 'projecting from the l center ofV `motion i farther, will throw` back the bolt intoits original position.` The plate W, a (Fig.` 5) after throwing out thebolt, can 4bernoved vsayone eighth ofza circle more,

when itis stopped bya screw inthe front f plate of the.lock;which"prevents it from turning farther.` l` `This one eighth circular `movement is intended to operate. other mechanism in thelock, and asabove said, is ap-V plied'while thebolt `is out, and at rest, the

i specialfpurpose of which `will be Yhereafter Wexplained."

" The plateW, (Figs..3,4, 5\and6,) has a `projection a-on its surface which works the forkedglever U. `Theyprojection 1c, is so arranged that it will notcomeup to and 5u touch the i fork w, before theV pointaf has remain in(` the*h`ole VI, i

lcleared itsel'f of point y, after throwingout lthe bolt z. l But when this does take place, then the projection la, will move up the fork f M Now by reversing the motion of the yplateV (byturning the knob H) the proajection' 71: will irstk press down fork fw', `of `the lever U, and on continuing themotion,

the bolt e, will again be thrown into, or inside of the lock. It will be perceived in *Figs 2, 4, `5, that the lever U, is secured to the axis o, the ends of which rest in plates I, and Gr. Inside of these plates, and close to each are attached segment wheels P (Fig. 2) `on the aforesaid shaft 0, which catch into and work forward and backward the rack N, which is the lower partofthe plate marked S,N, 1, (Figs. 5, and 4.). The

upper and lower part of said plate (marked N, andy) are shaped as plates, and the part S, is a square piece of metal which connects .Nand g/*that part S, being only Vabout half the width of those N and y. Thisconnection is on theside of plateI, which has an opening'cut into it, sufliciently large to allow of the moving of N, S, y, forward and `back for-say-one half inch. The part S, projects into a compartment, as far as th extent of the movement of the bolt, will admit, while N, S, y, slides in the square opening in plate I. N` and y have grooves, in the plate G, (Figs. 5, 6) `which correspond in depth to the opening in plate I.` In Figs. t and 5, is 4shown a plate marked II, with hole drilled through it with great care as to symmetry, which serve for a purpose to be described. The plate II, is attached permanently to plate G (Fig. 5) and a extends across to the plate I. It isabout half an inch thick more or less, and its height is suchthat itl just fits `between N and y (Figs. 3, t,.5,) and consequently N, and (y, can be moved `over the plate II. Then the `projection la moves up the lever U, this result will be produced viz the movingof N, y, `over II; and when theprojec` tion lo, depresses the lever U, the plates N,

and y, will be withdrawn from plate II.

Fig. 9, represents the bolt Z from below,

in the same .position as it is shown from` behind in Fig. 6. In this same Fig. 9, N, S, y, isalso shown from below as it is shown sidewise in` F ig. t. `The bolt Z, has a square opening at its back part,which slides over and fits exactly onto plate S. The firstmovement of the, knob H, throws out this bolt Z, without effecting the part N, S, y;

But after the bolt is out, then the part N S, y, is thrown into the position shown in Fig. 3. Then the piece S, is thrown behind the extreme back of the bolt Z, as seen from below in Fig. 8, and from behind in Fig. 5;

Fig. 6, represents the bolt Z, and piece S (the latter in dotted lines) in the same positions as Fig..9, represents it from below, and

it will be seen that it is impossible to slide back the bolt unless the piece S, has rst been removed from behind it, which can only be done after the proper key has been ap plied to open the lock. To N, and y, are attached, in a line with S, though not quite so wide as S, and at equal distances, three steel rods e, Fig. 6 (though they may be more or less in number than three) the length and breadth of which are shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2,-their thickness is seen in Fig. 6. To these rods c', e', e, are attached horizontal sliding pins f, I, g', (F i9'. 9,) the ends f, and g', o-f which are roun and the center part I, square; in their centers they have an oblong opening, by means of which they are snugly hung on the rods e, and they can be moved up and down on the rods. The holes in plate II Fig. 5, are drilled in a line opposite to each of the ends g', g', g, of these horizontal sliding pins; and the holes in the bars M, M, M, are op posite to the ends-f, f, f', of the horizont-al sliding pins. llVhen the plate N, S, y, is moved to the back of the lock, as shown in Fig. 3, it will carry with it the horizontal sliding pins just spoken of, and these pins will then be pushed int-o, and rest in the holes of the plate II (Fig. 2.) lli/*hen in this position their ends f, f, f, are then say one sixteenth of an inch distant from the vertical bars l/I, M, M, and the holes 7"', in said bars M, being opposite to f, (when said bars are at their lowest position, and when the horizontal sliding pins rest in the lower holes of plate II, into which they` will be pushed unless lifted by exterior force) the ends f will on moving the plate N, S, jz/ forward (as in Fig. 4) be pushed, (after having passed over the distance intervening between them and the barsf of an inch as above stated) into the holes r of bars M (see Fig. 2). While the ends f', rest in the bars M, the moving upward of the latter will also give a corresponding motion to the horizontal slides of which f, are the ends. The bars M, are lifted, by the lifting pins n, and it is the key which effects this. The key has a bit for each pin a, and said bits are capable of being extended to such lengths as will correspond with each hole in plate II, or in other words, the distance vertically of said holes, being marked on each bit of the key, and each bit being adjustable to either -of these distances, t-he key is therefore capable of lifting (by being applied to the pins n) the horizontal slides 7" I, g', from the positions they occupy into other positions. Assuming that, by means of a key such as described the horizontal pins have been lifted to either of its positions, the ends g will by moving the plate N S, y, to the back of the lock (as in Figs. 2, 3,) be pushed into such holes of plate II, t0 which they may have been brought opposite to, or in line with. If then the key is withdrawn from the pins n n a, the pressure of the springs s (Figs. 2, 5) will bring the bars M, into their original position, as shown from the rear in Fig. 5. As the ends f of the horizontal pins f I, g cannot be pushed through the solid portion of the bars M, it follows that these bars have to be lifted to exactly the same height again to which they were lifted rst by the key, in order to bring the hole in each bar again directly opposite to each end of the horizontal pins f', to admit of moving the plate N, S, y, back again, and of course forcing f', into the holes of the bars. The key can then be withdrawn and as the springs s can act again, they will of course press down the bars M, which will carry down with them the horizontal pins 'and bring these again into the same original position shown in Fig. 6. After this the key may be altered to suit the operator or user that is, the length of one or more bits may be altered which of course will eect a different location of the horizontal pins in plate II, and thus almost any number of changes may be made in the lock. Having locked the lock with a certain combination of bits, the slightest variation from that combination will make the opening or unlocking, with the key, impossible.

Figs. 1l, l2, and 13, represent di'erent views of the key. F, is a plate which contains grooves, in which fit, so as to be movable at pleasure, the bits p., p', p. These bits have small rills cut into them at equal distances, and which are regulated according to the plate II in the lock. H', is a plate which is secured to plate F by two screws Z Z and thus the bits p are contained between the two plates H, and F. The openings in plate F, through which the screws Z Z, extends are say one eighth of an inch long, so that plate F can be moved to and fro. On the inner side of plate F, there are small projections, which when the cuts in the bits 7J', are brought in a line with them, can be pushed into said cuts and thus fasten the bits. By moving plate F, in one direction its projections will be withdrawn from the incisions of the bits p, and they can then be drawn out to vary their length or change their combination, and the bits may be marked with letters, figures, or lines, so that the combination may be recorded, and when this has been done they can again be fastened by returning the plate F, to its first position. M, is a small knob on plate F, which facilitates the handling of the latterthe key in its en` tirety being very small indeed, for even a very large lock.

The manner of locking the lock is as follows: After the key has been given a shape to suit its user, it is applied below the by means ofthe fingers of the same hand,

fthe knob H is turned around until the bolt l `iis thrown out, thethumb is removed `from B,"and it returns to fits former position. j l j The `keyis then removed, and the locking is i completed. To unlock again the key is introducedas before, the thumb applied to B,

1 andthe motion of the knob H reversed.

If the personjimcharge of the key, Wishes to change its combination` after `he has locked the lock with it, tomake `it, almost an impossibility for "any other person into "PWhosehandsthe key might fall to open 'the lock With it, he should note carefully the shape which he gave` toit at the operation ofxlocking, as otherwise he Wouldhave as j `little probability of unlocking the lock, as biany other person,`nothavingthe right shape j f of the key, Wouldzhave. The key may be, so `gmadeastorequire Weeks before the Whole combinations could begone through With. A

i Havingthusffully described thenature of` j my invention, what Iclaim therein, as new 1` and desire tosecurebyLetters Patent is `1. A key provided withextension bits, the

1 individual lengthof each of; Which can be altered at pleasure, and still be applicable to the lock, as described.

2. I also claim the arrangement of the plates M, and slides f', for preventing any friction, and so as to prevent the possibility of feeling how the plates or slides are connected, as set forth.

3. I also claim the bars M having savvtoothed racks, as arranged With the sliding bars z', and the projecting pins m, for operating them from the outside of the lock a's described.

4. I also claim the arrangement of the horizontal changeable sliding pins which are moved by the bars M, the rack, toothed Wheels or segments, andforked lever U, Which is moved by the projection on the circular plate W, as set forth.

`5. I also claim as arranged the bars M,

and the stationary plate II, for holding the c. eUsTAv MUELLER.

Witnesses:

C. A. BREWSTER, A. B. SToUGHToN. 

